SUPPLY PRIEST LETTER OF AGREEMENT
between
The Wardens and Vestry of _________ Episcopal Church,
and The Bishop/Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese of Central New York
and The Rev. __________________________
who has agreed to serve as Supply Priest with the understanding that this tenure shall be for
______ months, beginning _________ thru ______________, unless earlier dissolved by mutual
consent, or upon 60 days notice by either party, subject in any case to the approval of the Bishop.
Supply Clergy: is a priest retained on a per diem basis. Supply cleric’s sole duty is to officiate
at liturgies at a regular worship, at funerals, and weddings, and to provide specified pastoral care.
During the tenure of a supply priest, the wardens and vestry remain in-charge of the parish. If a
priest who is performing supply priest duties is not canonically resident in the Diocese, he or she
must have a license to officiate in order to supply.
VESTRY RESPONSIBILITIES
All ministries other than those reserved to ordained leadership (such as administering the
sacraments) are understood as mutual ministries of the laity of the congregation and the Supply
Priest. The Vestry shall lead the laity to support and cooperate with the clergyperson in pursuit
of the congregation’s goals and ministry.
The Vestry is the legal agent for the congregation in all matters concerning its corporate property
and in its relationship with the Supply Priest. When there is no priest who is “in-charge” of a
congregation, the vestry also has oversight of the mission, ministry, worship and business of the
congregation. It is the responsibility of the Vestry to see that the Supply Priest is properly
supported, personally and organizationally, as well as in the Vestry's financial obligation to the
Supply Priest.
The Vestry will
 Supervise all congregational staff in the exercise of their responsibilities and
ministries, for which they shall be accountable to the Senior Warden.
 The Vestry is the legal agent for the parish in all matters concerning its corporate
property and in its relationship with the Supply Priest.
 Coordinate pastoral care in consultation with the Supply Priest.
 Provide lay readers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, acolytes, choir, and organist to
assist the clergy during worship services.
 Support programs of the parish such as Christian Education, Youth group, Altar
Guild, ECW, stewardship, and District involvement.
 Prepare for and lead the Vestry and Annual Meetings.
Revised February 9, 2015
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Maintain fiscal records and perform administrative duties.
Provide feedback and evaluation to the supply priest.
SUPPLY PRIEST RESPONSIBILITIES
The Supply Priest represents and extends the ministry which is the Bishop's pastoral and
canonical responsibility for congregations moving through a transition period.
The Supply Priest will
 Work with the Vestry and other lay leaders to maintain the regular schedule of
worship services and preaching.
 In consultation with the Senior Warden respond pastorally to emergencies.
 In consultation with the Senior Warden offer marriage preparation and officiate
at services of marriages and also at funerals. With the understanding that
marriages and funerals require additional time of the priest, it is recommended
that the wardens and priest review the attached time and compensation
recommendation for this additional time.
SUPPLY PRIEST TIMES OF WORK AND LEAVE
The Supply Priests’ scheduled work will be:
 Presiding and preaching at Sunday Eucharist;
 Presiding and preaching during the services of Holy Week and Easter.
 In addition to the above, an additional _____ hours per week will be spent working with
the parish on the defined goals and objectives of parish.
 Consideration should be given for vacation and/or sick time prior to this agreement
becoming effective. Prior planning, discussion, and mutual agreement for time and
compensation are suggested.
It is also mutually recognized that the nature of emergencies means that the Supply Priest will be
available for pastoral emergencies if possible. This will be coordinated with the Senior Warden.
SUPPLY PRIEST COMPENSATION
The Supply Priest’s cash stipend will be $__50__ per hour; $_125_ per Sunday service; and
$_150_ if two services are done on the same day. Services during Holy Week and for Easter are
compensated and are considered additional services. This will be paid to the Supply Priest by
the first day of the month or other mutually agreed upon time. The Supply Priest will keep track
of the hourly services provided and present a weekly time sheet to the Senior Warden.
Church Pension Fund: A priest who works in one parish for three consecutive months and earns
$200 or more a month, the parish is required to pay pension assessment based on the cash stipend
paid per month at 18% of the total amount paid; unless the priest has retired.
As a Supply Priest, there are no additional compensation or benefits.
Revised February 9, 2015
SUPPLY PRIEST EXPENSES
The Vestry shall pay the following expenses incurred by the Supply Priest in fulfilling the duties
of the office:
1. Travel expenses at the current IRS rate, plus out-of-pocket costs associated with travel,
such as the cost of parking and tolls.
2. The normal expenses of the Church's office operation (such as telephone, postage,
office equipment, supplies, copying) are expenses of the parish.
DISCRETIONARY FUND
In accordance with the canons of the General Convention, the Alms/Discretionary Fund, in the
absence of a Rector, is under the control of the Congregation’s Almoner. The Senior Warden
shall be appointed Congregation’s Almoner, and, together with the Supply Priest and Junior
Warden, shall have access to this fund for the aid of the poor and those in need, and for any other
reasonable expenses normally attributed to such a canonical Alms/Discretionary Fund.
USE OF BUILDINGS
It is understood that the general pattern of building use followed by past practice of the clergy
and vestry shall be maintained, unless there is specific action of the Vestry to the contrary. The
Vestry will have the right to grant use of the buildings to individuals or groups from outside the
parish, under guidelines approved by the Vestry. The guidelines should be documented and
readily accessible by any member of the congregation.
OTHER AGREEMENTS
This Letter of Agreement shall be made part of the minutes of the next Vestry Meeting following
its signing, and copies shall be given to each new Vestry member thereafter.
If the Supply Priest and Vestry are in disagreement concerning the interpretation of this Letter of
Agreement, either party may appeal for mediation to the Bishop, the Bishop being the final
arbiter.
Date: ________________
____________________________________________
Supply Priest
____________________________________
Warden
____________________________________
Warden
Reviewed by Transition Ministry Coordinator: _____________________________
Approved: ____________________________________________Bishop
SUPPLY CLERGY COMPENSATION
Revised February 9, 2015
As adopted by Diocesan Convention – 11/16/2014
RESOLVED, that the following be established as minimum compensation for Supply Clergy:
One service:
$125
Two services same day:
$150
Three services same day:
$175
Pastoral/Admin Care:
$ 50 an hour
Travel reimbursement at IRS rate
Guidelines for Implementing Supply Clergy Compensation
1. Since these are minimum amounts, clergy and parishes may negotiate higher rates.
2. Short-term supply. Normally, this situation occurs when parish clergy are on vacation or
otherwise unavailable for services. Parish clergy and supply clergy should discuss in advance
whether or not the supply will provide pastoral/administrative care in addition to services. If the
supply cleric is replacing one parish cleric who takes services at more than one place on the same
day, the above multiple service rates apply.
3. Long-term supply. This situation occurs when the supply cleric is the only one a parish has or
during the period after one cleric leaves and a new one is called. In both cases, there should be a
written agreement specifying the expectations of the cleric and of the parish both as to duties and
compensation. Is the cleric responsible only for Sunday services? Weddings? Funerals?
Pastoral and/or administrative duties? If the latter, what kinds and is there a limit on the number
of hours a week? The above compensation table should guide the amount of compensation
provided.
4.
Weddings:
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$125 for the wedding service.
$50 per hour for marriage preparation
$100 for the rehearsal
Travel reimbursement
Each parish is encouraged to determine whether or not to pass these fees along to
those being married.
5. Funerals:
 $125 for the service
 $50 per hour for pastoral work and service preparation with the family
 Travel reimbursement
 Any fee from the funeral home gets subtracted from the above fees; any honorarium from
the family does not.
Revised February 9, 2015